Hydration vs Moisturisation: Why your skin needs both

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Hydration vs Moisturization

HYDRATION VS MOISTURIZATION: WHY YOUR SKIN NEEDS BOTH

What Is the Distinction Between a Hydrator and a Moisturiser, and Which Do You Need?

Water is essential for keeping your skin healthy, smooth, and radiant, so it’s no surprise that every skincare aisle is lined with products that claim to hydrate and moisturise skin.

However, many of us may be unaware that moisturising and hydration are not the same, but the terms are frequently used interchangeably. While both are important in giving much-needed nourishment to the skin, understanding the differences will help you make the best option when targeting your skin’s individual needs.

To visibly transform dry skin into soft, smooth, radiant skin, you need two types of products in your arsenal: a hydrator and a moisturiser. While they sound similar, these products perform distinct tasks. Hydrators draw water from the atmosphere and deliver it to the skin for added radiance, while moisturisers replenish the skin for less dryness and flakiness.

“There’s a big difference in results,” notes Mary Radford, RN, Director of Product Education at Rodan + Fields.

Moisturiser is a scientific term that refers to many types of moisturisers:

Emollients are substances that moisturise the skin (fats and oils)
occlusive squalene (oil) humectants. However, in the realm of marketing and product purchasing, the word has transformed.

What Is the Distinction Between Hydrating Vs Moisturizing?

Moisturisers and hydrators both address the significance of ensuring that the skin receives all of the water it requires to combat dryness and dehydration, premature ageing, and environmental damage. The distinction is primarily in how they go about accomplishing these outcomes.

Hydration is the amount of water within the cells that causes them to swell, become plump and bouncy, and reflect light well. If water drains out of the cells and gets dehydrated, they might become shrivelled, resulting in dull skin.

This means that by applying a topical hydrator, you are infusing water into your cells and boosting your skin’s ability to absorb moisture and nutrients.

On the other hand, Moisturizing is the process of trapping and sealing in moisture to construct a protective barrier, prevent water loss, and maintain the skin supple and smooth.

Let’s start with hydration.

All skin types, not just visibly dry skin, benefit from added hydration. (That’s right: Oily skin and acne-prone skin need hydration, too.) Hydrated skin feels softer and is better prepared to receive skincare products layered on top. In addition, “Hydrated skin acts and looks younger,” says Mary.

Moisturisation helps skin maintain the natural lipid barrier on its surface that keeps water from escaping — or at least slows the process. “Moisturisers include ingredients to lock down hydration,” says Mary.

To look and feel its best, your skin needs both hydration and moisture. Fortunately, multitasking products boost both simultaneously, such as the new Rodan + Fields Active Hydration Body Replenish.

How to Decide Whether You Need a Hydrator, Moisturizer, or Both

If your skin is prone to dryness, it’s easy to believe that a generous application of moisturiser is all that’s required to restore its plump appearance and youthful glow. Unfortunately, while this may be true at times, it is also likely that your skin is dehydrated rather than dry. And if the latter is true, you’ll need a hydrator to get the job done.

Would you please take notice of your skin’s condition to determine whether it is dehydrated? Our skin has a natural lipid barrier that protects it from injury and loss of water. However, having dry, flaky skin, it’s an indication that your skin isn’t creating enough lipid cells to form a protective barrier, leaving it unable to hold in moisture. This is where moisturisers come in.

Hydration vs Moisturization – The purpose of a moisturiser is to limit the amount of water that evaporates from the skin to lessen transepidermal water loss. Moisturising is especially beneficial for dry and peeling or flaking skin after getting a chemical peel, taking Retin-A, or during the winter.

Meanwhile, if you have a dull and lacklustre complexion, with fine lines and wrinkles becoming more visible, your skin may be dehydrated. Dehydrated skin means that the cells are dry and water-deprived. When this happens, they lose their plumpness and volumization and seem shrunken as a group.

You can have dehydrated but moistened skin or hydrated but dry skin. Pro Tip: Ideally, we want hydrated, bouncy, swelling skin cells with topical moisture sealed in.

Moisturizer Or Hydration Serum?

If your skin is prone to becoming flaky and dry, your skin barrier may fail to seal in moisture. Moisturizers come in handy here! First, apply moisturizer to your skin to make it look full and bouncy again. This is especially beneficial in the winter when your skin is prone to dryness.

On the other hand, if you find that your skin is dull and that any fine lines and wrinkles are becoming visible, this indicates that your skin is dehydrated. To fight this condition and provide much-needed nourishment to your skin, use a hydrator.

Essentially, you should hydrate a little, moisturize a little, and be good to go — but because everyone’s skin is different, finding the right balance between the two is critical.

Hydration vs Moisturization – If your skin still feels dehydrated, here’s how to tell if you need to increase your hydration, moisturization, or both.

Is your skin parched? If your skin appears thin and lifeless or wrinkles and sagging skin are more visible than usual, your skin is likely dehydrated.
Is your skin dehydrated? Having rough and flaky skin, you may need to use a bit more moisturizer.
Are you dehydrated and deficient in moisture? If all of those symptoms seem all too familiar, your skin is trying to communicate something — namely, “I’m thirsty!” So increase your hydration and moisturization efforts to reclaim your natural, healthy glow.

WHAT HYDRATOR OR MOISTURIZER IS BEST FOR YOU?

What we put into our bodies has just as much influence on our skin as what we put on it. So water is crucial, and drinking it is the most convenient approach to moisturizing your skin.

When treating your skin from the outside, look for items that will help you through the seasons by keeping your skin’s moisture level regulated.

Try a heavier moisturizer if you have dry skin.

If your skin is naturally dry all year and prone to flake or peel, chances are it isn’t due to weather-related dehydration – your skin has a hard time keeping moisture.

You’ll need to moisturize to form a protective seal on the surface and lock in moisture. A thick, emollient moisturizer will assist keep water from evaporating from your skin. The appropriate formula will give the nutrition and nourishment your complexion requires to thrive all winter.

Best Selling Moisturizers by Rodan and Fields

Moisturization

REDEFINE OVERNIGHT RESTORATIVE CREAM by Rodan Fields

Improved + new! Moisturize deeply with our thick night cream to revitalize the skin’s surface and lessen the appearance of fine lines and deep wrinkles. Furthermore, it now noticeably lifts, firms, and sculpts to improve facial contours. All skin types are suitable, but normal-dry skin is prefered.

Furthermore, Rodan Fields REDEFINE TRIPLE DEFENSE CREAM BROAD SPECTRUM SPF

Improved + new! Our 2-in-1 creamy daily moisturizer + sunscreen with Peptide Technology + Botanical Extracts nourish to help visibly reduce fine lines, deep wrinkles, and firmness without clogging pores. All skin types are suitable, but normal-dry skin is prefered.

How to Choose the Best Humectant (Hydrating Serum) or Moisturizer

Drinking plenty of water is still the most effective approach to hydrate your skin, but individuals with dehydrated skin may wish to complement it with a topical hydrator that binds and draws water into the cells. Advice Dr Katie Rodan and Kathy Fields.

Hydration vs Moisturization – Natural humectants boost the skin’s ability to hydrate itself over time, so search for products containing hyaluronic acid, such as RP3.

Hydrating components are suitable for all skin types. They are water-soluble, will not clog pores, and should be alcohol-free to avoid aggressively drying out or irritating the skin’s surface.

In terms of formula and ingredients, moisturizers offer a wide range of possibilities. Moisturizers can be light or heavy, and they can be tailored for particular seasons and skin types.

A lightweight gel or light lotion may be appropriate in the humid, warm, sweaty spring and summer months. Still, dry, cold, and windy fall/winter weather may necessitate heavier lotions containing ceramides, oils (coconut, almond), butter (shea or cocoa), or dimethicone.

These components are well-known for their hydrating and nourishing properties and their ability to combat the indications of ageing and free radical damage.

Rodan and Fields offer a Skin Care Quiz to help you choose which type of moisturizer is appropriate for your skin type. A light, oil-free moisturizer, usually in the form of a lotion, is recommended for those of you with acne-prone skin. Get Advice on our products

These contain less oil and more water. A lotion or cream will suffice for mixed skin, whilst dry skin should use a serum or a more emollient cream.

Hydrators and moisturizers should be applied in the morning (before sunscreen) and at night for the greatest benefits.

What it is: A super-hydrating face serum that balances moisture levels and prepares skin for subsequent products.

Hydration vs Moisturization – Why you require it: Well-hydrated Skin appears to be younger. This best-selling serum turns dry skin into younger-looking, younger-acting skin that stays hydrated for up to eight hours*.

*Based on an 8-day clinical and consumer trial conducted in the United States.

There is no gold standard for defining a hydrator and a moisturizer. However, manufacturers generally use these phrases to differentiate how your skin receives the moisture it requires.

Rodan and Fields Active Hydration Contains Proprietary Technology + Key Ingredients

3D3P Molecular Matrix
Glycerin
Prevents moisture loss
Hyaluronic Acid
Hydrates + visibly firm skin

How can I incorporate R+F Active Hydration Serum into my regimen?

R+F Active Hydration Serum works best when used in conjunction with a moisturizer or other skincare product. After cleaning and toning, apply it. Do not wait for the product to dry before moving on to the next phase in your skincare routine (Step 2 for Soothe, Spotless, and Recharge Regimens, Step 3 for Redefine, Reverse, and Unblemish Regimens).

Is R+F Active Hydration Serum just recommended for persons with dry skin?

No. Regardless of age or skin condition, all skin types require hydration to work efficiently. Unfortunately, there is a common misperception that only dry or elderly skin requires hydration, while in fact, all skin types, even acne-prone or oily skin, can benefit from the correct type of hydration.

Is it possible that using too much R+F Active Hydration Serum will cause my skin to become oily?

R+F Active Hydration Serum is non-comedogenic (it will not clog pores) and non-acnegenic (it will not create outbreaks). It self-adjusts to what the skin needs to achieve optimal moisture balance. For optimal results, use once per day in the evening if you have oily skin.

Do I require R+F Active Hydration Serum if I’m already using an R+F moisturizer (for example, Redefine Triple Defense Treatment, Redefine Overnight Restorative Cream, or Soothe Sensitive Skin Treatment)?

A Super-Hydrating Body Cream from Rodan and Fields.

The new body cream from Rodan + Fields is a single product that works double-duty. It includes Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin, super-hydrators that draw water from the atmosphere. Our patent-pending 3D3P Molecular Matrix, a three-dimensional polymer grid, holds these water-attracting ingredients against the skin to deliver instant and continuous hydration.

Rodan + Fields Active Hydration Body Replenish also contains the moisturizing ingredients Coconut Oil, Shea Butter and Vitamin E, which work together to strengthen the skin’s all-important natural barrier.

In combination, these hydrating and moisturizing ingredients visibly transform dull, dry skin. So for radiant, soft and smooth-looking skin, Rodan + Fields Active Hydration Body Replenish is a win-win.

Forward this to a friend who’d like to discover the difference between hydration and moisturization.

Rodan and Fields Press

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